Police: Wash. man blew up family dog

The man, who was fighting with his daughter, was booked on charges of second-degree malicious mischief, reckless endangerment and possession of explosive devices

By Kimberly A.C. Wilson
The Oregonian

STEVENSON, Wash. — A Stevenson, Wash. man is set to appear in court Monday, a day after Skamania County deputies say he attached an explosive collar to his dog and blew the animal up.

Christopher Wayne Dillingham, 45, was arrested early Sunday for allegedly detonating the explosive device outside his home along Loop Road in Northwest Stevenson around 3:45 a.m.

Several neighbors called 911 to report hearing what sounded like either a high-powered rifle or loud explosion.

The large dog's remains were found on Dillingham's property, said Dave Cox, undersheriff for Skamania County.

Dillingham, who runs Thundershack Fireworks just across the Bridge of the Gods from Cascade Locks, was booked into the Skamania County Jail on charges of second-degree malicious mischief, reckless endangerment and possession of explosive devices.

The company's description on its Facebook page calls Thundershack "wicked fireworks for the 4th."

Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Metro Bomb Squad assisted deputies from Skamania County Sheriff's Office and "located several items of evidentiary value," Cox said in a news release.

"We are grateful for the inter-agency cooperation that we have with the Metro Bomb Squad and the BATF," the news release said. "Their assistance resulted in a safe resolution to this case."

Dillingham's first appearance in Skamania County Superior Court was scheduled for sometime after 3 p.m. Monday.

His fireworks business has faced state tax warrants for unpaid taxes totally more than $15,500 in all but one of the past eight years, said a Skamania County Court clerk. All but about $5,200 for 2011 and 2013 taxes has been paid.